Shine My Shoes

About

Shine My Shoes opens Swings Both Ways and was released as its third single on 24 March 2014. Written by Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and Chris Heath, the song embodies Williams’s cheeky swing revival sound and served as a defiant response to his critics. A vinyl edition of the single was issued via RobbieWilliams.com, with a limited run of 100 signed copies.

Williams described the song as “a licence to be a cock”, explaining that it channels the confidence and self-parody of the classic Rat Pack era. Inspired by Sammy Davis Jr., the lyrics see Williams addressing his detractors with characteristic wit and swagger. “It’s aimed at anybody that leaves disparaging comments underneath YouTube videos or newspaper articles,” he said. “I’m an oversensitive human, so I wrote a song to combat them.”

Musically, Shine My Shoes combines brass fanfares, syncopated rhythm and big-band arrangements by Steve Sidwell, creating a lively fusion of humour and self-assurance. It was one of the first songs completed after Williams and Chambers reunited in 2013, re-establishing the effortless chemistry that had defined their earlier work together. The song’s confident, tongue-in-cheek tone made it an ideal introduction to the album’s mix of originals and standards.

“It’s in the spirit of a Sammy Davis Jr. song. I’m singing against the haters and the naysayers, giving them my time in the form of a swing song detailing exactly why they should hate me.”Robbie Williams

The accompanying video featured live footage from Williams’s performance at the London Palladium, capturing his trademark charisma and humour. Critics praised the song’s energy, with Renowned for Sound calling it “the Robbie Williams we’ve gotten to know and love, with empowering vocals and cheeky lyrics.” Both playful and self-aware, Shine My Shoes reaffirmed Williams’s command of the swing-pop genre and set the stage for one of the most successful albums of his later career.